It's a Mystery! -- The Secret of Kingdom Patience (part 2) -- 11/06/2022

It all starts with an ask

Jesus gets out of the boat and heads back to the house. As he walks through the crowd, perhaps Jesus heals some because of his great compassion. Once inside the house, his disciples come to him to explain the parable of the weeds.

Notice Jesus does not reprimand his disciples for not understanding the parable and needing an explanation. In fact, Jesus seems pleased that they ask. Jesus immediately responds to their question.

Do you feel you are imposing on Jesus if you bring to him your questions, concerns, fears, and requests for help?

Have you ever thought of what makes Jesus happy? Dane Ortlund addresses that question in his book Gentle and Lowly using a quote from a Puritan pastor:

[Christ's] own joy, comfort, happiness and glory are increased and enlarged by his showing grace and mercy, in pardoning, relieving, and comforting his members here on earth. - Thomas Goodwin, The Heart of Christ

We increase Christ's happiness when we come to him for his guidance, counsel, healing, and forgiveness.

The motivating incident for Jesus' explanation is Jesus' disciples coming to him with a specific request: "Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field." Matthew seems to imply that Jesus did not intend to explain the parable, but Jesus’ immediate and poignant response to disciples’ specific request hints at his delight in their asking.

What instructions, comfort, and healing are we missing from Jesus because we do not ask?

James wrote,

James 4:2 (NIV)

You do not have because you do not ask God.

Right now, what should we ask Jesus?

• What explanation do we need?

• What guidance do we seek?

• What comfort do we crave?

• What healing, forgiveness, or restoration is lacking?

Jesus wants us to come to him and ask for what we need. Earlier in Matthew's Gospel, Jesus spoke these words:

Matthew 7:7 NIV

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Jesus Gets to the Point

In response to his disciple's request, Jesus explains that he, the Son of Man, is the Sower, who sows good seed in his field. The good seeds are persons who hear the message of the kingdom and, by faith given to them by God, come to believe in Jesus, so that they become Jesus' faithful and fruitful disciples.

The devil is the enemy who comes to plant his seed, his evil children, throughout the world and even among Jesus' children in the church. The devil's children cause evil. They choke out would-be believers and do damage to true believers and true churches.

Concerning this reality, John Calvin wrote,

In my opinion, the design of the parable is simply this: So long as the pilgrimage of the Church in this world continues, bad men and hypocrites will mingle in it with those who are good and upright, that the children of God may be armed with patience, and, in the midst of offences which are fitted to disturb them, may preserve unbroken steadfastness of faith. - John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke

The Sower's servants wonder why their master doesn't eliminate the weeds. The Sower tells them that to do so might cause damage to his children. He lets them know that the time is coming when He will send his harvesters - his angels to gather up the weeds and bring them to the fate they deserve, burning, weeping, and gnashing of teeth. The angels will gather up the righteous and bring them into God’s eternal security, where they will shine like the sun.

Jesus has a point to make.

In the end, justice comes for the wicked and the righteous.

The end of the age ends in punishing flames for the wicked and in brilliant glory for Jesus' followers.

J. C. Ryle underscores the seriousness of Jesus’ words writing,

There is something peculiarly solemn in this part of the parable. The meaning of it admits of no mistake. Our Lord Himself explains it in words of singular clearness, as if He would impress it deeply on our minds.

Let the ungodly man tremble when he reads this parable. Let him see in its fearful language his own certain doom, unless he repents and is converted.

Brothers and sisters, this raises the question: Do we have a concern for persons heading for the blazing furnace where weeping and gnashing of teeth is their eternal life?

In the end, weeds will burn; wheat is secure eternally. Do we want to see some weeds transformed into wheat?

Evangelization is offensive to hard-core weeds who are determined to go to the fate that awaits them. However, the spoken word of the Gospel is the word of life to weeds predestined to become wheat. The message of the kingdom is the seed that will take root and grow and make them fruitful 30, 60, or 100-fold in their service to God.

We don't have to be experts in evangelization. Training, while helpful, is not necessary. Caring about the eternal souls of our neighbors opens natural ways to tell people the Good News that Jesus died for their sins. Some will come to Jesus and find rest for their souls.

Ryle continues his commentary with these words,

Let the believer in Christ take comfort when he reads this parable. Let him see that there is happiness and safety prepared for him in the great and dreadful day of the Lord. The voice of the archangel and the trump of God will proclaim no terror for him. They will summon him to join what he has long desired to see, a perfect Church and a perfect communion of saints.

Jesus ends his explanation with the now familiar phrase, “Whoever has ears, let them hear.” Jesus knows those who do, by faith, have the spiritual ears to hear, will believe and live among the righteous. Those without spiritual ears are the weeds and their destruction is certain.

The Secret of Kingdom Patience

What vision does Jesus offer us for a united life with God?

Jesus promises justice, vindication, and glory for those who patiently remain loyal to him to the end.

What intention does Jesus require we apply by faith to experience this promise of justice, vindication, and glory?

We must set our intent to be faithful to Jesus to the end, in our mind, our will, our emotions, and with our body.

What spiritual practices can we apply to succeed in our intention to be faithful to Jesus to the end?

1. Asking in faith. What are the stumbling blocks that threaten your faithfulness to Jesus? Talk to Jesus and ask him for what you need. Ask until you see the transformation, not just today.

2. Worship in hope. Praise and thank God for the glorious future that awaits you. Not just today, but unceasingly until Jesus comes in glory.

Jesus promises us this: in the end, justice comes for the wicked and the righteous. In the meantime, the devil intends to trip the faithful by sowing evil everywhere. Justice, vindication, and glory are the future for followers of Jesus who patiently remain loyal to him to the end. Therefore, we set our intention to follow Jesus faithfully until we meet Him face-to-face when our life ends or when he comes in glory. We cultivate faithfulness by noticing what can cause us to stumble. We ask Jesus to help us so that we won’t fall. Anticipating the glory that will be ours, we make it our delightful habit to worship him with joyful thanksgiving, and praise.